Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history
in the Santa Ynez Valley region.

Saturday, March 21: Butterflies of the Valley and How to Bring Them Into Your Garden

Swallowtail butterfly nectaring on a native ceanothus in flower. Photo credit: Mary Jane West-Delgado

Free Lecture with Mary Jane West-Delgado & Michael Delgado (suggested for ages 10 and up) Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive Join Mary Jane West-Delgado for a high-definition presentation of short videos and photos about the incredible butterflies that are found in the Santa Ynez Valley. She will also describe […]

Saturday March 28: Volunteer Opportunity with SYVNHS

Help pull thistles at beautiful Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve. Saturday, March 28, 9:00 a.m.-noon, with optional after-lunch walk. Join the SYVNHS for a morning of weed abatement followed by a short trek into the beautiful Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve.  We’ll join SYVNHS Field Trip Chair Tim Matthews in removing noxious Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum, and […]

Saturday, April 11: Santa Ynez River – Urban Oasis

Field trip with Tim Matthews Saturday, April 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683. Participation is limited to 20. Members free/ nonmembers $20. The Santa Ynez River is the lifeblood of Santa Barbara County. It is the largest and most important drainage in the area, as it supplies most […]

Sunday, April 26: Aliso Loop – Two Years After Fire

Field trip with Larry Ballard and Liz Gaspar Sunday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00pm. Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683. Participation is limited to 20 Members free/ nonmembers $20 Join trip leaders Larry Ballard and Liz Gaspar for another Aliso Loop post-fire exploration, now two years after the White Fire of May 2013. […]

Saturday, May 2: An Afternoon of Camera Trapping at Sedgwick Reserve

Free Workshop with Ken Hickman Saturday, May 2, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. UC Sedgwick Reserve, Tipton House and in the field Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683. SYVNHS members and Sedgwick docents have priority for reservations (limit of 20) Join Ken Hickman on a moderate to vigorous hike at Sedgwick Reserve to collect […]

Saturday, May 23: Birding the Sedgwick Reserve

A mixture of three species of tree oaks helps support a rich avian fauna at Sedgwick Reserve. Photo credit: John Evarts

Field trip with Fred Emerson Saturday, May 23, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. UC Sedgwick Reserve Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683 (limit of 20 participants.) Join naturalist Fred Emerson for a birding excursion that will entail some moderate hiking along the trails and roads of UC Sedgwick Reserve. With its mosaic of habitats, […]

Sunday, May 31: Spider Identification in the Field

Male tarantula found wandering across Shirttail Canyon Road (Monterey County). Photo credit R. J. Adams.

Field trip with R.J. Adams Sunday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683. Participation is limited to 20 Members free / nonmembers $20 Join author and naturalist R.J. Adams for a morning walk to look for and identify spiders at a valley location to be announced. R.J. Adams […]